Grey! Art on Aging

At a time when population ageing is increasingly prominent, this exhibition does not turn away from the subject but embraces it. Contemporary artists visualise themes such as age discrimination and loneliness, as well as connection, intimacy, the changing body, communities, and relationships with ancestors.

The artists show how different cultures view older people in different ways and reflect on how ancestors influence our identity and cultural history. For example, Tyna Adebowale (Nigeria, 1982) draws inspiration from the Nigerian Uneme community in which she grew up – a community in which multiple women collectively raise a child. In her work, she explores their role in the transmission of knowledge and traditions, and how this form of ancestry contributes to the identity and resilience of a community. Performance artist Wen Hui (China, 1960) pays tribute to her ‘forgotten’ great-aunt in the video installation Dance with Third Grandma (2015). By dancing and moving together with her, she unlocks untold stories.

Cover image: Joan Semmel, Crossed Arms, 2018, Brussels | Courtesy of the Artist and Xavier Hufkens